“Over Christmas, I spent some time cleaning up my Windows PC: removing spyware and adware that was crippling the machine, consuming the resources that should have been available to the applications I was trying to run. A couple of weeks later, I removed a load more. This is not an isolated experience: Windows users have to spend more and more time keeping their PCs free of viruses, spyware and spam,” Simon Kershaw writes for The Church Times. “Yet, in ten years of using the internet, my Macintoshes have never once been infected by a virus, spyware, adware, ‘pop up’ windows, and the like. Whether the Mac is less susceptible because it is inherently safer, or because it is a minority platform (probably a combination of the two), running a Mac is a much easier experience than running Windows. This advantage has traditionally come at a price — literally so, as Macs have been significantly more expensive than a PC.”
Kershaw writes, “Now Apple has taken an important step in changing this. The new Mac mini, starting at £335 (including VAT), is a more affordable computer than previous Macs, and comes with software for all basic needs. Mac OS X (pronounced ‘ten’) is a stable and easy-to-use operating system whose simple good looks make Windows seem old-fashioned.”
“[The] software makes the price tag very appealing: almost as if you are getting the hardware for free. The hardware is not bad, either. The base configuration provides a 40GB hard disk and 256MB memory, which should be upgraded to 512MB. You will need a monitor, USB keyboard and mouse: PC ones will do fine. Most USB peripherals — printers, scanners, and so on — will work, too,” Kershaw writes. “If you have been considering a Mac, but were put off by the price, or if you are fed up with the amount of time you spend defending a Windows PC from attack, then the Mac mini and its software might be the machine for you. The computer press certainly thinks so: it has been in raptures over the new machine. The stock markets are joining in the enthusiasm, too, as Apple’s shares have climbed to an all-time high. Be tempted by an Apple.”
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Apple’s rapt attention to Mac mini’s design is evident inside and outside the box – March 23, 2005
Personal Computer World review gives Apple’s ‘Mac mini’ 4 out of 5 stars – March 22, 2005
Dell can’t match Apple’s Mac mini – March 21, 2005
Apple’s $500 Mac mini may cause Windows PC homes to become Macintosh homes – March 20, 2005
PC Pro: Apple’s Mac mini offers ‘lovely touches that Microsoft can’t match’ – March 17, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini ‘a true desktop beauty’ packed with software that amazes – March 17, 2005
Apple’s Mac Mini turns commodity computing into fine computing – March 15, 2005
Sick of your Windows PC? It’s time to move on with your iLife with Apple’s new ‘Mac mini’ – March 09, 2005
Tech writer Fasoldt: Apple’s Mac mini includes ‘outstanding, superb’ software – March 09, 2005
Educators and students will want Apple Mac mini computers – March 07, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini ‘a money-saving option for PC users who want to test-drive Apple’s reputation’ – March 06, 2005
TrustedReviews: ‘The Mac mini is a master stroke by Apple’ – March 01, 2005
Apple iMac G5, Mac mini models hold top 5 spots on Amazon’s Desktop Computer Top Sellers list – March 01, 2005
PC World gives Apple’s Mac mini 4 out of 5 stars – February 26, 2005
Apple Mac mini ‘perfect for computer user who wants to leave the tyranny of Window and viruses’ – February 26, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini might well convince Windows users to switch to Mac OS X – February 22, 2005
Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Apple’s Mac Mini is a device of the most cunningly crafted evil’ – February 18, 2005
CNET Executive Editor switches to Mac and he ‘ain’t ever going back’ to Windows – February 17, 2005
Tom’s Hardware: Apple Mac mini’s size, design, attractive price sets it apart – February 16, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini is a convincing shot across Bill Gates’ bow – February 15, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini makes using a Mac more affordable and more attractive than ever to Windows users – February 08, 2005
Washington Times: ‘Mac mini raises the bar for what a good, low-price computer can and should do’ – February 08, 2005
Apple Mac mini, iMac G5 models hold 5 of top 6 spots in Amazon’s Desktop Computer Top Sellers list – February 08, 2005
New Mac mini helps Apple get its secret weapon – creative software – in front of Windows users – February 08, 2005
The Seattle Times: Apple’s new Mac mini is ‘tiny, beautiful and dirt cheap’ – February 05, 2005
BusinessWeek: Apple’s Mac mini comes with elegant, stable Mac OS X and very good software – February 03, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini is an attractive option to Windows-based PCs – February 02, 2005
Computerworld: Apple Computer ‘has a hit on its hands with the new Mac Mini’ – February 01, 2005
Apple’s Mac mini offers relief from Windows viruses and malware – January 30, 2005
Associated Press: With Apple’s Mac mini ‘you could abandon Windows altogether’ – January 27, 2005
CBS News: Grab a new Apple Mac mini ‘and kiss the old Wintel machine goodbye’ – January 27, 2005
AnandTech reviews Apple’s Mac mini: ‘tempting Windows users everywhere’ – January 26, 2005
> …then the Mac mini and its software might be the machine for you.
It might just be the the machine for you, but you’ll give up a little bit of speed and you’ll end up forking out an extra $100 for the more realistic RAM minimum.
> …then the Mac mini and its software might be the machine for you.
It might just be the the machine for you, but you’ll give up a little bit of speed and you’ll end up forking out an extra $100 for the more realistic RAM minimum.
2005: 7% share, 2006: 14% share & 2007: 20% share of PC, the right share for the right Apple
I’ve had Pop-up Windows on my Mac, more so lately.
Heh, I woudln’t ever want any more than 20% of the marketshare professor. So much junk on the PC side… Plus if marketshare grew to 20% in 2 years – damn what an explosion, I’m sure such growths would have some serious problems. Regardless, I bet it’d be more realistic if by 2007 we had 5% marketshare.
Besides – it’s only the online geek community that has even heard of the mac minis. I could ask my mom, my friends, etc – and they’ve never heard of the Mac Mini. Still most dont’ even know that the mac platform is still around – none the less that it can run Word, and has no viruses, etc. It’s as alien to them as Linux is. 0% mindshare. Apple needs to do some serious marketing if they want to really have some switchers. Have like a Geico style commercial – pound our brains in w/ their product so much everywhere we go, that basically they buy a large chunk of mindshare.
I would suspect that if Apple really wanted to take advantage of selling the Mac mini to more people they need a few things:
– production to catch up with the intense demand
– a modest update that includes Tiger + 512MB RAM
– the holiday season!
Imagine, a Mac mini + Tiger + RAM holiday ads spreading the word. End of year sales should be off the chart as more people tell their friends, more buy, and more hear about the benefits from, well, everyone!
I’m trying to convince my neighbor to get a Mac mini. She has a computer at her house, but its not even hooked up. Its some 5 year old custom built running Win 98 I think. She’s an assistant principal for a middle school so she doesn’t think she can bring her work home and use the Mac for it. I have told her that Office runs on the Mac and that she should bring me home some files and I’ll prove it to her. But she doesn’t like the fact that the Mac doesn’t have a floppy drive.
This is what we are dealing with. Until Apple promotes their computers more, not much will change.
Whats a ‘Windows Network’ anyway?
(FIRST POST! yah! I’m a homo)
Jeff,
Tell your assistant principal friend to think “outside of the Mac mini box”– that an external floppy drive is an add-on she can buy cheap. There’s a solution to every problem for those who are looking for it.
professor: Too much too fast.
I’d say —
December 2005: 5 – 6%
December 2006: 9 – 10%
December 2007: 12 – 15%
A question for everyone (and MDN): Has there ever been an independent study done that rated the relative difficulty of writing a virus for Windows as compared to OS X? Or is the only thing out there the stilted claims put forth by each side (primarily the Microsoft camp)?
Something that would or could put an actual number to the results would be great — on a scale of 1 to 10, for instance. One (1) being the easiest and ten (10) being the most difficult. I’d have to guess that the results would be something like: Windows – 1.5; OS X – 9.
Just wondering.
Apple have more orders for the Mac mini than they can supply, so why at this time would they want to advertise for more?
Look at the iPod mini, the G5, they had more orders than machines for them as well, people waited for that, they like me will wait for my mini. 1.42Mhz with 512MB RAM. Shipping date given to me is on or before April 11th, I will just have to wait and see. Until then I will continue to use my iMac DV400SE and my iBook 466SE.
K. Gauld
Scotland